I've never seen the Woods Tea Company perform, but if fortune sends me to one of their gigs, I'm sure I'll feel right at home. After reviewing a previous live recording, simply titled Live, I now find myself enjoying a completely new set-list -- with all new jokes and banter, too! -- on Standing Room Only.

This four-man band from Vermont has a light, easy and free approach to music. They blend folk standards with original work, salting the mix with a heavy dose of Celtic and old-time influences.

The resulting CD is a pleasant evening's entertainment, a gig in good company that encourages singing along.

Bandmates Rusty Jacobs (guitar, pennywhistle, bodhran and vocals), Mike Lussen (guitar, banjo, bouzouki, bodhran and vocals), Howard Wooden (guitar, bass, bodhran and vocals) and relative newcomer Chip Chase (guitar, banjo, fiddle, mandolin, bodhran and vocals) have a casual familiarity, a style of on-stage interaction that speaks of long years of experience and friendship.

The addition of Chase (who replaced hammered dulcimer and keyboard player Tom Mackenzie) adds a fiddle to the lineup, which is always a step forward in my book. And Chase shows his chops on several instrumental sets, including "Lament for Henriette/St. Anne's Reel/Soldier's Joy" and "Speed the Plow/Mason's Apron/Devil's Dream."

But the majority of this 20-track recording is devoted to the band's gift for singing, both individually and as a group. Either way, it works well. Songs range from the wistful ("Lonesome Traveller," "The Country Life," "Give Me Just a Little More Time") to the whimsical ("Robin Hood," "Don't Pet the Dog"). (Unfortunately, the band isn't keen on sharing information on the tracks, lyrics, location of the recording or any other good stuff; the liner notes are pretty darn sparse.)

I've got to see these guys live. 'Til then, I'm enjoying their CDs immensely.

[ visit the Woods Tea Company website ]